Random Rambles: 10Years Experience with an MBA Seeking Entry-Level Position

10Years Experience with an MBA Seeking Entry-Level Position

Deciding to leave the workforce after working over a decade in the media industry and being quite comfortable in both my career and finances was the hardest and easiest decision I made. Almost four years later, I resent the outcome, but not my decision.

My family was excited about my new life as a stay-at-home mom. We just gave birth to our son, and our daughter was entering preschool. I was now able to fully manage the construction of our new home. And we figured once all was settled, going back to work wouldn’t be an issue. I had over 10-years agency experience, good relationships with my peers, clients and colleagues, and a bachelor and masters degress in marketing. So, devoting 5 years to my family seemed small in the big picture.

After 3 years, I was ready to go back. The house was completed in just over a year, we moved in and now call it our home. Our older one started school full-time and our younger was entering preschool. It took me a few weeks to update my resume (which I hadn’t touched since post-college!) and get myself set up on several career sites. Once I felt what I put together was presentable, I submitted my cover letter and resume to numerous postings for which I technically fit their qualifications. But it felt like I was sending applications to a black hole.

When I finally got some call-backs, the first comment was usually “So, I see you’re not currently employed?”. I share my story about deciding to be a temporary stay-at-home-mom, which everyone finds admirable, but I sense the disappointment in their tone. These calls go no where. When I ask for feedback, the suggestion is … to “look at more entry-level positions instead“.

After months of my ego and my confidence getting shot, I started looking into how to take this challenge and turn it into an opportunity. I created my own unpaid adult-internship with a local ad agency. So there I was, in my 30’s, interning because, apparently, I was un-hireable. The decision to raise my kids killed my career. Imagine if I stuck to the full 5 years!

Was it worth it? Absolutely. I was there for every moment for both of my kids. As a mom, you always get the advice about how kids grow up so fast and to cherish the moments. I did exactly that. I walked the walk.

Was it easy? Absolutely NOT. As someone who is career-driven, being a stay-at-home-mom took a toll on my psyche. But I’ll leave that for another post.

Where am I now? With the internship, it put a ‘recent’ line item on my resume and the responses finally started coming in. I still had to share my story to explain how I went from a mid-level manager to an intern, but now employers saw someone who was ambitious. I got hired.

Employers are missing out on a strong breed of women
by passing over moms looking to return to the workforce.

Here’s the thing – there’s no person more ambitious than a mom, especially a mom who is looking to take care of her family but also wants to take care of herself. Employers are missing out on a strong breed of women by passing over moms looking to return to the workforce. Our priorities are balanced. Our goals our greater. Our commitment is stronger. We are not entry-level.